VGM & ASSOCIATESHealthcare MSO
Full Menu Search

Congratulations to the 2023 Breece Fellowship Recipient

Published in Orthotics & Prosthetics on April 25, 2023

OPGA would like to congratulate the 2023 Breece Fellow Katherine ”Kate” Ketelhohn!

Read more about Kate below as reported by NAOPA:

After a highly competitive process, the NAAOP Selection Committee chose Ketelhohn to serve in the 10-week paid Fellowship program beginning in late May through early August in Washington, DC. Ketelhohn will shadow NAAOP General Counsel, Peter Thomas, and learn about O&P policy and advocacy in the context of the broader disability, rehabilitation, and healthcare policy agenda.

As a result of a serious blood infection as an infant, Ketelhohn lost her left hand and parts of both feet. For nearly 20 years, Ketelhohn has used at different times a body-powered and a myoelectric hand as well as orthotic/prosthetic hybrids to allow her to walk.

“I’m thrilled to have been selected for this prestigious Fellowship and cannot wait to take advantage of this opportunity,” stated Ketelhohn. “Growing up using both orthotics and prosthetics has come with many challenges.The NAAOP Breece Fellowship provides the opportunity for people like me to better understand how public policies are formed and how to best advocate for the O&P community.”

Ketelhohn is a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University majoring in biology in the pre-med program. She has won numerous scholarships and is on the Dean’s list for her academic performance. Her current goal is to enter the field of medicine and understands the relationship between the provision of clinical care and public policy to ensure access to that care.

But Ketelhohn is not just a superior student. She is highly engaged in the theater program at Hopkins and has honed her communications skills throughout the past several years in order to speak publicly with confidence and be the best advocate she can be. She serves as President of Advocates for Disability Awareness at Hopkins and participates on several diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) advisory committees.

As stated by George W. Breece, NAAOP Executive Director and namesake of the Fellowship, “Kate wants to couple her interest in medicine with her passion for disability rights, and her lifelong use of orthotics and prosthetics makes her uniquely qualified for this Fellowship.”

“We welcome her to Washington this summer and could not be happier to have made this selection,” stated Maggie Baumer, NAAOP President. “I have the utmost confidence that she will make the most of the trails blazed by our previous fellows, as well as leave her own unique legacy for future fellows to learn from.”

TAGS

  1. orthotics & prosthetics

Get Connected

Stay up-to-date on the latest resources and news provided by VGM & Associates.

Sign Up for Email

From Our Experts

Protecting Your Business With Viable and Sustainable Payer Contracts thumbnail Protecting Your Business With Viable and Sustainable Payer Contracts Read how to protect your durable medical equipment, prosthetic, orthotic, and supplies (DMEPOS) business by ensuring that you have payer contracts that have long-term viability, as this is one of the most important factors in determining whether your company ultimately succeeds or fails. Locking the Digital Door to Risk: Proactive IT and Website Security Strategies to Protect Your Business thumbnail Locking the Digital Door to Risk: Proactive IT and Website Security Strategies to Protect Your Business With the increasing number of cyber threats and data breaches, it's important to take the necessary steps to protect your business from these risks. The PHE Is Over: What's Next? thumbnail The PHE Is Over: What's Next? In today's episode of Industry Matters, Mandi Joyner, Senior Director of Marketing at VGM & Associates, talks with three of VGM's payer, billing, and reimbursement experts Ronda Buhrmester, Dan Fedor, and Craig Douglas about the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and what that means for members. A Letter From the President, Adam Miller: May 2023 thumbnail A Letter From the President, Adam Miller: May 2023 Read from Adam Miller about the latest from OPGA, including the Limb Loss and Preservation Registry, O&P advocacy, and more. How to Navigate Supply Chain Issues thumbnail How to Navigate Supply Chain Issues The DMEPOS supply chain was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain procedures that were developed out of necessity during the pandemic's onset and peak have evolved into effective best practices. One of the most crucial lessons learned is the importance of close collaboration between providers and their trusted suppliers, manufacturers, or distributors to ensure success. Limb Loss Registry & Evidence-Based Care in O&P thumbnail Limb Loss Registry & Evidence-Based Care in O&P OPGA is proud to continue supporting the Limb Loss and Preservation Registry (LLPR), a national program to improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of treatment and preservation of limb loss. Adam Miller and Tom Powers Attend Policy Forum in Washington D.C. thumbnail Adam Miller and Tom Powers Attend Policy Forum in Washington D.C. On Wednesday, May 10, the AOPA Policy Forum held in Washington D.C. brought together over 100 stakeholders, manufacturers, and practitioners in the field of orthotics and prosthetics (O&P). The State of DMEPOS: Where Does Our Industry Stand Now, and Where Are We Heading? thumbnail The State of DMEPOS: Where Does Our Industry Stand Now, and Where Are We Heading? Jeremy Stolz, President, VGM & Associates and VGM Fulfillment, outlines several areas of DMEPOS to consider as part of your business' action plan for 2023.

Give your business an advantage over the competition.

Become a Member